The Key to Defeating Republicans

The base of the Republican party may be a cadre of the wealthiest 1 and 1/2 percent of American taxpayers (those making greater than $3 million annually) but the base of the Republican's voting bloc is the evangelical Christians and allied voters who believe in the 'futurist' eschatology as shown in the end-times Left Behind novels.

This futurist view of the Bible's prophesies requires a 'pre-tribulation' appearance by the antichrist and a Third Temple in Jerusalem.

As the book End Times Delusions by Steven Wohlberg shows us, the prevalent end times eschatology has been 'historicism' mainly from the Reformation theologians (Luther, Zwingli, etc. etc.) on down. The 'futurist' view was originated by a Jesuit named Ribera in order to deflect from the historicist Protestant view that pointed to the Papacy as the antichrist.

Long term utilization by groups like the Knights of Malta and Opus Dei may also have wanted mainstream Protestant churches to 'buy into' this futurist eschatology. Furthermore, the CIAs original core group (William Donovan, James Jesus Angleton, etc.) were Knights of Malta members who would also have wanted this viewpoint to prevail-- along with the Third Temple 'necessity'.

Democrats and progressives should read End Times Delusions and see for themselves that this is a 'weak link' in the Evangelical's armor. Also, a review of Biblical prophesies would reveal -- as Wohlberg's book shows-- the thin ice theology that 'futurist' eschatology skates upon.

They have no understanding of the "common man" as the Schiavo case and the Social Security debacle have shown.

Most people won't pay attention to issues that don't directly and immediately impact their lives.

So WMD? I don't know anything about it. Let the people we elected to do the hard stuff take care of that.

But my grandfather, incapacitated in the hospital with no hope of recovery, wanted off life support and my family had to decide what to do. Everybody I've talked to who disagreed with the Repubs had a personal experience with this issue. (and a number of them were conservative Republicans)

Day to day issues are personal and understandable. Overarching, complicated ideas don't play well with the general populace no matter how much you want them to. People's lives are hard enough with working, raising a family and dealing with just plain living.

The key is to take big, complex issues and make them understandable on a personal level. Clinton's "I feel your pain." was found to be smarmy and a bit twee for the Repubs. But guess what? It worked. He's one of us. He feels our pain. He knows about the things we know about. He's had a similar life to me (or someone I know).

That's why John Edwards is a viable candidate if they can get him to stop talking like a lawyer when he gives speeches. If he acts like he's talking to Bobby-Joe down at the farm and garden, he'll have them eating out of his hands.

So think-ify it all you want. In the end it really is very, very simple. Communicate on their level using issues they understand. If you aren't intelligent or flexible enough to figure out how to make that work, then you'll never get anywhere.

they realize their 'futurist' end-times view of Biblical prophesy is upended. ALL ELSE FLOWS FROM THAT REALIZATION. Their supposed 'strength' -- being 'faith-based' -- will be stood on its head and using that 'strength' against them IS their weakness !

'...The last shall be first', especially after the 2006 elections, once the Word gets out.

Is getting 100 million none voting Americans to vote.

Good luck

many voted but thought 9/11 and Saddam were connected......George was a hero to them.

zalinda

and then tell ABC,CBS, & NBC to get their shit together or loose the peoples airwaves.

:banghead: :banghead:

that just kicked out the non-Bush voters.